Automatic car-coupling



M. DE L. HUSTON.

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-16,1917.

1 37%,6l '7 Patenmd Mar. 29 11921 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR wnwEssEs M. DE L. HUSTON AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATSON FILED NOV. 16. 1917. lfiw fiwa Patented Mar. 2% 192,10

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR Mama lie bafia yme jfwml.

, WITNESSES ATTO R N EY STATES MARCUS DE LAFAYETTE HUSTGN, F KOKGIXEG, EEXDIANA.

AUTOMATIC CAR-CGUPLING.

Application filed ltoveincer 1 5, 191.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that l, lilAnoUs DE LAFAY- izr'rn l insrorr, a citizen of the United States,

tomatic Car-Couplings, ct which the iollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to car couplers and in for its object the production of a simple and efficient car coupler which is yield-ably held in an open position, and will automatically loci: when the jaws of the coupler are swung to a closed position.

Another object oi this invention is the production or a simple and eflicient coupler which will normally remain in an open position for the purpose of permitting the coupler to receive the coupling head oi an adjacent car.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is top plan view of the car coupling,

Flg. 2 1s a section taken on line 22 of big. 1,

Fig. 3 1S a section taken on line S 8 of Fig. 2,

i is a section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a spring which may be used in place of the spring shown in Fig. 1, for holding the swingin jaw in an open position,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of my invention,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation or the structure shown in Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the draw bar which is provided with an enlarged head 2 for the purpose or" supporting stationary jaw 3 and a swinging jaw 4c. lhe stationary jaw 3 is fixedly secured to the head 2 oi the draw bar 1' and the swinging jaw 1 is pivotally connected to the head 2 by means of a pivot pin 5. The stationary jaw 3 is provided with a curved outer end 6 and the swinging Patented 29, 19121..

jaw l is provided with an inwardly extending lip 7. A. stay-bolt 8 is carried by the swinging jaw 1 and works within a slot 9 formed in the head 2. The pin 8 is of less diameter than the width of the slot 9 and therefore allows a slight swinging movement of the swinging 1. The slot 9 may of course be constructed in any desired mannor to permit the desired amount of swing of the jaw as for instance by cutting notch 10 in one side of the slot 9 to permit the path of travel of the stay bolt 8 to be lengthened. This stay bolt 8 extends above the upper face or the jaw 4 and limits the rearward expansion of the spring 11 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 oi the drawings. in expansion spring 12 is anchored at one end to a pin 13 carried by the stationary jaw 3 and the opposite end of the spring 12 is secured to a pin 1 1 carried by the outer end or the swinging jaw *1. This expansion spring 12 is provided with convolutions 15 intermediate the ends thereof and a coupling pin 17 passes down through the jaw and is adapted to drop into the slot 9 of the head 2 and lock the jaw a in closed position, when the jaw 1 is swung inwardly. The coupling pin 17 is carried by a head 18 and this head 18 is provided with a vertically extending slot 19 within which slot 19 works a lug 20 carried by the coupling pin 17 for limiting the longitudinal movement or" the coupling pin 17 within the head or cap 18. This coupling pin 17 as shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of convenience is extended down through the convolution 15 formed in the spring 12.

The of the coupler are shown in a closed position in Figs. 1 and 3 oi the drawings and are held in a closed position by means of the coupling pin 1?. Thiscoupling pinhowever passes through Lll jaw 1 and rests upon the upper face of the draw bar 1, when the jaw is in an open position. As soon the jaw is swung to a closed position, the coupling pin 1'? will, through lorce of gravity drop into the slot 9 thereby locking the jaw 4r a closed position. The at is provided with alined apertures 16 for the purpose of permitting the coupling pin 17 to extend therethrough.

As shown in 5 a spring 12 may be replaced by means of a spring 22, which fiat spring may be secured at its terminals 23 to the respective posts 13 and 14.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown a modilied form of the present invention wherein a draw bar 2a is employed carrying a stationary jaw at one end thereof. A swinging jaw 26 is pivotally secured to the head 27 of the draw bar 24 upon a pivot pin 28. The jaw 26 is provided with an overhanging lip 29 for the purpose of engaging an adjacent coupler. An expansion spring 30 is secured at its respective ends to the anchoring pins 31 carried by the respective jaws 25 and 26.

shoulder portions and these shoulder portions 32 are adapted to limit the swing of the lugs carried by the swinging jaw 26.

A coupling pin 84: is carried by the swing ing jaw 26 and this coupling pin passes through apertures 35 formed in the jaw 26 and is adapted to extend through the aperture 36 formed in the draw bar 2%, for the purpose of locking the swinging jaw 26 in a closed position when the jaw 26 is swung inwardly. The apertures 35 and 36' are adapted to register "for the purpose of permitting the coupling pin 3% to lock the swinging jaw 26 in a closed position. A slotted cap guide 37 i provided for coupling pin 34; and this slotted cap 37 receives a laterally extending lug 38 of the coupling pin 3%, for limiting the downward movement of the coupling pin 34: through the apertu es 235 and 36.

By considering F (3 it will be seen that lugs 33 will limit the outward swing of the jaw 26 by engaging the shoulder portions 32. The swinging jaw 26 is adapted to be yieldably held in an open position by means of an expansion spr1ng 30.

lVhen an adjoining coupler engages or 1s forced against the inner ends of the swing-.

i a pin 13 The stationary jaw 25 is provided with It should be understood that by having the coupling pin mounted in the manner set V forth, the pin will be free to drop into aperture 16 formed in the lower extension of the j aw l and at the same time the guide will limit the upward and downward movement of the lower end of the pin and will form a long bearing for the pin.

What is claimed is In a car coupler, a T draw bar provided witha longitudinal slot, a bifurcated knuckle pivotally mounted to one side of the T head and straddling said side of the head, an obturator extending from said knuckle into said slot and allowing a limited movement of the knuckle relative to said T and a locking pin carried by the knuckle and adapted to extend through the slot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARCUS DE LAFAYETTE HUSTON.

\Vitnesses T. E. Ln'r'r, O. E. PIOKERING. 

